Machine for making covered wicking



(No Model.) I 3 sheetssheet 1.

T. MCGOWAN.

, MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED WIGKING, 8:0. I

No. 541,568. Patented June 25, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

T. McGOWAN. MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED WIGKING, 6w.

N0. 541,568. Patent-ed June 25, 1895.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

T. McGOWAN. I MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED WIGKING, M.

Patented June 25, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT Quinton...

THOMSON MoGOWAN, or- CLEVELAND, 01110.

MACHINE FOR MAKING COVERED WICIKING, 8w.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,568, dated June 25, 1 895.

Application filed February 27, 1394. Serial No. 501,637. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMSON MCGOWAN, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Covered Ticking, Filled or Padded Braid, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it. pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for making covered wicking, filled or padded braiding, 650., wherein the wicking or filling is incased-and secured within the covering or wrapper byfolding the latter longitudinally around and sewing the same to the filling, and my invention consists in certain features of construction, and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

A preferable construction of. machine embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-.-

Figure 1 is a perspective of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan of a portion of the machine, partly in section, on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the meansemployed for grinding the filling and the covering fabric from the bobbins and for folding the covering fabric part Way around the filling. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are elevations of guiding-folders located in the path of the work to the needle of the machine. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective showing two of said folding devices and means connecting said folding devices with each other; and Fig. 8 isatransverse section on line 8 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of a portion of the means employed for operating the feeding-rollers from the needle-bar of the machine. Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective of suitable means for guiding the work from the last folder to and in under the presser-foot of the machine. Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged elevations in detail; and Fig. 13 is a section on line 13 13, Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the table of a sewing-machine; B,-the overhanging-arm or goose-neck of the head of said machine; 0, the bed-plate of the sewingmachine head; D, the presser-bar; E, the.

presserfoot; G, the needlebar, and H the needle.

At the front side of table A are suitably supported two bobbins I and J, the one bohbin I carrying the covering or wrapping-material K, and the other bobbin Joarrying the filling L. Said bobbins are preferably supported from upright arms or standards a suitcovering-fabric around the filling or material to be incased or covered preparatory to being sewed or stitchedto the filling. Said guiding and folding means are very clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4:, 5, 6, 7, and 8, and comprise preferably slotted guides and folders, M, preferably three or more in number.

'Each of members M has a central oblong slot M for the passage of the filling or material to be incased or covered, and has another narrower slot M arranged about the centrally-located slot, for the passage of the covering-fabric or wrapper, said outer slot being so arranged and having such trend that it will fold the covering fabric about the filling, the one end of said outer slot overlapping, as at M the other end of the slot such a distance that the portion of the strip of coveringfabric along the one longitudinal edge of the strip shall overlap the portion of the fabric along the other longitudinal edge of the strip the distance required to enable the coveringfabric to be sewed or stitched near each of its longitudinal edges, to the incased material or filling. Any suitable number of said guides and folders Mare arranged in line between the presser-bar and bobbins, so that the covering-fabric and wicking or filling to be inclosed shall pass from the one folder M to the next rearward folder and from the last folder Each M to and in under the presser-foot.

folder M is somewhat larger than the next rearward folder M, that is, the central slot M in each folder M is less oblong and somewhat larger than the centrally-located slot M in the next rearward folder, and the outer slot M in each folder M is separated farther from the centrally-located slot in said folder than the distance between the slots in the next rearward folder.

In the machine illustrated three folders M are employed. One of the folders, namely, that which is located next adjacent to the bobbins, is about midway between the presserfoot and bobbin-supportingarms or standards, and the remaining two folders M are shown located a suitable interval apart between said first folder and the presser-foot. The centrally-located slot' M in each folder being somewhat narrower vertically than the centrally-located slot in the folder next preceding it, and the outer slot M in eachfolder being located in closer proximity to the inner or centrally-located slot in saidfolder than.

in the nextpreceding folder, as already indicated, it will be observed that the coveringfabric, in the operation. of the machine, is. caused to gradually lessloosely embrace the wicking or filling as the work passes fromthe first to the last folder, the arrangement of the guiding and folding-slots inthe last folder being such as to complete the required folding of the covering-fabric relative to the filling inclosed thereby. From the last folder the incased filling or material, with its covering or wrapper, passes-to and in under the presser foot of the sewing-machine throughthe-path of the sewing-machine needle and thence passes to the feeding-device which consists, preferably of a pair of feeding-rollers hereinafter described.

A guiding finger, N, (see Figs. 1, 3 and .10) for engaging the top of the work inits passage from the last folder to the presser-foot, to thereby guide or direct the work in under said foot, is preferably provided between said folder and presser-foot preferably in close proximity to the latter. Said guiding-finger is shown suitably secured'to a guiding-bar or piece 0 that is arranged parallel with the path of the work and is adapted toengage one of the edges of and thereby form a lateral guide for the work. Member 0 is preferably rigid or integralwith a plate 0 suitably secured to the bed-plate of the sewing-machine head. The guiding-finger N is preferably adjustably secured in place, the same engaging or extending through a lateral hole 0 in the upper portion of guide 0 and being secured in the desired adjustment by means of a set-screw N that engages acorrespondiugly-threaded hole in member 0 for the purpose indicated, and platexO is preferably adjustable in a direction transversely of the path of the work and is secured in'thedesired adjustment by means of a thumb-screw O in any approved manner. The longitudi' nal adjustability of guiding'finger N renders the latter capable of adjustment as required for difierent widths of work, and the adj ustability of plate 0 enables the adjustment of said linger relative to the path of the work.

Guiding finger N, at its free end, is prefer ably bent downwardly, as at N to engage the edge of the work opposite to the edge engaged by lateral guide 0 already described, said downwardly-projecting member of the guiding-finger forming a lateral guide for the work in the opposite direction. By means of the guiding-devices just described, the work is accurately guided from the last folder M to the path of the sewing-machine needle.

The last folder M (see Figs. 1, 7 and S) and the next preceding folder M, are preferably removably secured in place, the same being preferably rigidly connected with each other by means of a tapering tube P that connects ithe two centrally-locatcd slots in said folders land tapers from the centrally-located slot in lthe forward folder toward the centrally-lofcated slot in therearward folder. Said folders are alsoconnected by a plate Q the locajtion whereof is such that the overlapping portions of the. covering-fabric engage opposite sides of said plate, respectively, as shown in Fig. 8, and said folders are also connected by a plate R at the bottom. The outerorcover- :ing-fabric-receiving slots of said two folders are open atone end, as at M namely: at the end located uppermost for accommodating the-insertion of saidfabric preparatory to the operation of the machine. I would here remark thatthe-work is placed in position withinand relative to the different folding and guiding-devices before commencing to open atethe machine, and that this isall the attendant hasto do, the machine taking care of the work after that. Asalready indicated, it is desirable to have the last and next rearward folder removably secured in place so that they can be removed and other folders secured in place in case the machine was required to make workof greater or less width. To this end, one of said folders is provided with an upwardly and laterally-extending arm m that .isprefera'bly adj ustably secured by means of a set-screw or thumb-screw m to an upright flange S of a plate S adjustably secured, by means of a screw S in any approved manner, to the bed plate of the sewing-machine-head, said plate S being slotted in adirection at right angles to the path of the work to accommodate the adjustment of said folders relative to the path of the work.

One or more fingers T, preferably a pair of such fingers, are provided between the bobbins and adjustable folder M forguidingand partially folding the covering-fabric in its passage from the respective bobbin to said folder M. Fingers T are longitudinally slotted as at T, to receive the fabric, said slots being open at the free ends of the fingers, and the fingers, at their opposite ends, are pivotally secured, as at T to arms U that are secured preferably to the bobbin-supporting standards. Fingers T are tightly pivoted to their supporting-arms so that they will retain the position or attitude in which they are placed, and their. supporting-arms are preferably adjustablysecured to the bobbin-supporting-standard by means of set-screws U, in any approved manner, and slotted to accommodate a longitudinal adjustment of the same.

The filling, or material to be inclosed, is fed down upon the covering fabric from above the upper bobbin, said filling passing preferably upwardly from the bobbin that carries it to and over a guide W provided at thetop of the bobbin-sitpporting-standards and located a suitable distance above and somewhat forward of the bobbin that carries the covering-fabric. From guide W the filling passes downwardly upon the covering-fabric, to be incased by the latter as already-indicated.

Any suitable device is employed for feeding the work from the presser-bar and needle of the sewing-machine, and for feeding the same the distance required upon each elevation,or disengagement from the work, by the sewing-machine-needle.

A preferable construction of feeding-device is as follows: A suitable distance at the rear of the presser-foot, and in line with the path of the work, are located two feed-rollers,'X, the one above the other, and suitably supported from'and between housings or standards X rigid with the table A, said feed-rollers being arranged transversely of the path of the work and adapted to engage opposite sides of the work, respectively, the rollers being so arranged relative to the top surface of the bed-plate of the sewing-machine-head that the work will be fed from the needle to the feed-rollers in a horizontal or approximately horizontal plane. The feed-rollers are milled, toothed or otherwise roughened upon their peripheral surfaceto take hold ofor bite the work as required to feed the work. The feedrollers are rotated intermittently in the direction to feed the work in anysuitable manner, but are preferably operated from the needlebar of the sewing-machine, and to this end I provide the following mechanism: The feedrollers, at one end, are intergeared with each other, as at X so that when motion is communicated to one roller the other rollershall also be rotated but in an opposite direction. A ratchet-wheel X is fixed or operatively mounted upon one of the trunnions of one of the feed-rollers, and, loosely mounted or f'ulcrumed upon the same trunnion at the outer side of said ratchet-wheel, is alever X to the side of which, adjacent to the ratchet-wheel, is suitably secured a pawl X that is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and operate said wheel as required. A spring X that engages and acts to retain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet-wheel, is preferably secured to said lever. Lever X is operatively connected, by means of abar or link Y, with a collar, sleeve or member Y slidably mounted upon an upright post I) rigid with the overhanging arm or goose-neck of the sewing machine-head, said link, at its lower end, be ing pivoted to the aforesaid lever, and, at its upper end, being pivoted or swiveled to said sliding-member. The arrangement of parts is such that as said sliding-member and the upper end of the linkpivoted thereto, are elevated, as hereinafter described, lever X is actuated in the direction to cause the pawl, that it carries, to move the ratchetwheel and thereby actuate the feeding-rollers, and when the aforesaid slidingcollar, and link with which it is-connected, descend by the gravity of the parts, the pawlshall be lowered one or more notches of the ratchet-wheel (according to the adjustment had) into position for the next succeeding movement of the feeding-rollers. The upper end of the needle-bar of the sewing-machine carries, a laterally-extending arm or member 9 that is adapted to engage the under side of the link-carrying sliding collar Y, the arrangement of parts being such that upon the elevation or disengagement of the sewing-machine needle from the work, arm 9 of the needle-bar shall have come into engagement with said sliding-collar and shall lift said collar to effect the operation of the feedingmechanism. Arm 9 of the needle-bar, at its inner end, is preferably adjustably secured to the needle-bar by means of a set-screw g in any approved manner. A suitable device for guiding said laterally-extending arm or member of the needle-bar, during its ascent and descent, is preferably provided, said guide consistingof an upright rod or member Z that is located a suitable distance from upright post I) to accommodate the operation" or up-anddown movement of the aforesaid laterallyextending arm or member of the needle-bar between it (said guide) and its'supportingpost, an arm I) being preferably adjustably mounted upon said post a suitable distance above the link-carrying sliding-collar, and guide Z is adjustable vertically, the same being secured to arm I) in the desired adjustment by means of a set-screw Z. Guide Z, at its lower end, is bent laterally, as at Z to form a rest for arm g of the needle-bar when said bar is in its lowermost position.

What I claim is- 1. The combination with a sewing-machine, and suitable means for feeding the coveringmaterial and filling to and from the sewingmachine-needle, of a pair of folders M located a suitable interval apart in the path of the work to the sewing-machine-needle, each folder having an inner slot M, and having an outer slot, M extending around the inner slot, the length and trend of said outer slot being such that the one end thereof overlaps the other end a suitable distance and above the inner slot, and the upper end of said outer slot being open, as at M a tube connecting the inner slots in said folders, all arranged substantially as shown for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with a sewing-machine, suitable means for feeding the covering-material and filling or materialto be incased to and from the needle of the sewing-machine,

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of a pair of folders, M, located a suitable interval apart in the path of the work to the sewing-machine-needle, each folder having an inner slot, M, and having anouter slot, M extending around the inner slot, and the tube P and plate Q, arranged substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with a sewing-machine, suitable meansfor feeding the covering material and filling or material to be incased to and from the sewing-machine-needle, of three folders M located asuitable distance apart in the path of the work to the sewing-machineneedle, each of saidfolde'rshaving a centrally located slot M and having another slot M arranged about the central slot with the one end of said outer slot overlapping the other end of said slot a snitabledistance, the size a and relative arrangement of. the slots in each 1 folder being such that the covering fabric in I lied.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- 28th day of December, 1893.

THOMSON MCGOWAN. Witnesses:

C. 1-1. DORER, WARD HOOVER.

tion, in the presence of two witnesses, this 30 

